Kyrgystani Som

The Kyrgyzstan Som is the currency of the Kyrgyz Republic. It was introduced on May 10, 1993, replacing the Soviet ruble at a rate of 1 som = 200 rubles. The som is subdivided into 100 tyiyn. In 1993, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 tyiyn, with brass 1 and 5 tyiyn, aluminium-bronze 10, 20 and 50 tyiyn and cupro-nickel-zinc 100 tyiyn. In 2000, cupro-nickel 10, 20 and 50 som and bi-metal 500 som were introduced, followed by brass 10 som in 2004. A new series of coins was introduced in 2009, featuring the Kyrgyz national emblem on the obverse and animals on the reverse. These were followed by a new series of banknotes in 2009. The Kyrgyz Republic is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the southeast. It is predominantly mountainous, with its Tian Shan and Pamir mountain ranges extending more than 3,000 km (1,900 mi). Kyrgyzstan's capital and largest city is Bishkek.